Submersible pump



J. w. MccoNAGHY sUBMERsIBLE PUMP Filed March 14, 1962 Nov. 24, 1964INVENTOR.

JAMES W. McCONAGHY ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,158,295SUBMERSIBLE PUMP James W. McConaghy, Ashland, Ohio, assignor to 'lfhe F.E. Myers 8: Bro. Co., Ashland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Mar.14, 1962, Ser. No. 179,549 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-333) This inventionrelates to pumps and is particularly concerned with a submersible pumpof a particular construction adapting it to a certain class of work.

There are many instances in which it is desirable to have a pump unit oflow capacity and relatively high head. Such pumps, for example, areemployed in connection with tanks or receivers and are usually connectedto the tank or receiver and are operable for transferring liquidtherefrom to another point. Pumps of this general nature are known andheretofore have comprised units adapted for connecting with the tank orreceiver by pipes and many times have been turbine pumps which, whilethey are quite satisfactory when running with close clearances,

tend to wear relatively rapidly and, when turbine pumps do wear, theperformance characteristics fall off sharply.

The present invention is concerned with a pump arrangement adapted forbeing mounted directly in a tank or receiver thus eliminating pipeconnections into the tank and it is further concerned with a pumparrangement in which the eiciency of the pump is maintained for a longperiod of time, even though the pump does wear to some degree in thenatural course of events.

The present invention also has as an objective the provision of a pumpstructure of the nature referred to arranged for receiving a standardelectric motor so that the pump unit can be sold either with or withoutthe motor according to the customers preference.

Still a further object of this invention is the provision of arelatively simple multi-stage centrifugal pump arrangement in which avery simple structure provides for accurate location of the impellersand diifusers of the pump structure relative to each other forestablishing the optimum conditions within the pump structure at thetime of manufacture.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent uponreference to the following specification, taken in conection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly in section showing a pump arrangementaccording to the present invention mounted in a tank or receiver;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary View drawn at somewhat enlarged scale showinga portion of the pumping structure of the pump; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view showing a modification embodying a thrustbearing for the pump impellers.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, FIGURE 1 shows a tankor receiver 10 which is vprovided with an opening 12 in one wall, forexample, a top or side wall, although it is also possible for thisopening to be located in the bottom wall. Bolted to the opening by bolts14 is a pump structure that consists of a cast housing portion 16 havinga flange 18 through which bolts 14 pass. Gasket means 20 could beprovided between flange 18 and tank or receiver 10 to seal this region,if necessary.

Housing 16, at its upper end, has a iange or bracket portion 22 adaptedfor receiving an electric motor 24 which is arranged for face mountingas by having a machined annular surface 26 adapted for engaging themachined surface of ange or bracket 22. Cap screws 28 screw the motor tothe bracket or ange.

The housing 16, at its lower end, has a cylindrical projection 30extending through aperture 12 of the tank ice or container wall andwhich projection is provided with external threads 32. Threads 32threadedly receive the internally threaded upper end of a tubular pumpsleeve or pump shell 34 which bottoms against a shoulder provided onhousing 16 at 36. The pump shell receives therein in superimposedrelation a plurality of diifusers 38 and therebetween are located spacermembers 40.

The diffusers and spacer members alternate Within the pump shell betweenthe lower end of projection of housing 16 and the upper end of a suctionhead or inlet member 42. As will be seen in the drawings, particularlyin FIGURE 2, each diffuser has an annular axial ange or projection 44 oneach side thereof and these projections engage corresponding recesses inthe opposite sides of spacer member 40 and onthe lower end of projection30 and on the upper end of suction head 42.

These intertting portions of the diifusers and the spacer plates and theprojection 30 serve to maintain the diifusers and spacers in exactlyaligned position Within the pump shell and also inhibit leakage frombetween the kdiffusers and spacer plates at the peripheries of thediffusers where the liquid pressure is, of course, the highest.

The suction head 42 is externally threaded as at 46 and is threaded intothe lower end of pump shell 34. The suction head bottoms against thestack of diffusers and spacer plates in the pump shell and it will, atthis point be evident that the diffusers and spacer plates take theirposition within the pump shell by abutment with the lower end ofprojection 30 of housing "16.

The suction head 42 has axial passages v4S therein that communicate withthe lower open end of the suction head which is preferably provided withscreen held in place by resilient retainer ring 52.

Associated with each diffuser is an impeller 54 and each impeller has apolygonal central hole through which extends a polygonal drive .shaft56. The impeller hubs abut one another as indicated by reference numeral58 so that the impellers and drive shaft form a single solid unit.

The drive shaft 56 at the bottom has a journal portion 60 running in abearing 62 carried by suction head 42. A nut 64 threaded on the shaft atthe bottom of the polygonal portion thereof clamps the impellers to theshaft at the lower end and there is provided means for locating this nutto the shaft which locating means in the A modification illustratedtakes the form of a roll pin 66.

shaft and extends through a bearing 74 carried in a mem-V Shaft 56, atits upper end, has a round portion 68 extending upwardly from the upperend of the polygonal part thereof which is locked by roll pin 70 to adrive sleeve 72. Drive sleeve 72 also forms a journal for the ber 76which may be press fitted into recess 78 formed upwardly into housing 16and forming a discharge chamber.

The upper end of drive sleeve 72 is internally threaded and threadedlyreceives a drive member 80 which, at its upper end, is provided with asprocket 82 for receiving the output shaft 34 of electric motor 24. Setscrews 86 are provided for drivingly connecting member 80 to shaft 84and also for ixingmember 80 to shaft 84 against axial movement relativethereto.

For the purpose of aligning the impellers vertically on.

the drive shaft therefor with the difusers in which the impellers run,there may be provided washer or shim means at 88 between the uppermostimpeller and the lower end of drive sleeve 72. At this point, it will beevident that the impellers take their location from the drive shaftwhich, in turn, is located by its connection with the motor drive shaft.

The impellers thus locate entirely independent of the diifusers and theexact location of the impellers relative to the diiusers is determinedat the time of assembly by the shim means 88 which can be distributedbetween the opposite ends of the polygonal portion of the drive shaft asnecessary.

It would also be possible to locate the impellers within the pumpassembly independently of the motor shaft and this could be done asillustrated in FIGURE 3 by providing a drive sleeve 72 With a radialflange 73 bearing on the upper end of sleeve bearing 74. This provisionwould permit assembly of the pump independently of the motor with themotor being supplied by the purchaser.

Where the motor is supplied with the pump, of course, the rotatingportion of the motor, including the output shaft 84, could be heldwithin the pump against axial movement by the provision of thrustbearings and with the rotating portion of the motor so located, the setscrews 86 could be depended upon to locate the irnpeller and drive shaftassembly of the pump.

Located in housing 16 immediately above member 76 is another chamber 90in which is located a shaft seal 92. This shaft seal extends between theupper wall of chamber 90 and a washer 94 that rests on the upper end ofdrive sleeve 72. According to this invention, chamber 90 is drained backinto the container or tank by the passage means 96 provided in housing16.

The recess 7S beneath member 76 is a pressure chamber and receives thedischarge from the pump. A discharge conduit 9S connected to this recessconveys the pump discharge away from housing 16. On account of thedraining of chamber 90 back into the container, no problem arises onaccount of leakage of high pressure liquid along drive sleeve 72 andthrough bearing 74.

The pump structure according to the .present linvention is characterizedin being capable of operation of high heads for long periods of timewithout any substantial reduction in the efficiency of operation, eventhough considerable Wear of the pump parts occurs. This is in distinctcontrast to a turbine pump wherein the performance falls off rapidlywith any wear of the pump which would, of course, increase. clearances.

The pump arrangement of the present invention can be mounted directly ina tank or receiver by being placed through an aperture in the. wallthereof and this greatly simplifies installation of the pump. The onlyconnection required is the connection of discharge conduit 98 and, ofcourse, the electrical connections to the pump motor itself.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A pump especially adapted for'mounting in a wall of ka containercomprising; a housing including flange means for mounting the housing onthe Wall of a container, a cylindrical projection on the container sideof said housing, a pump sleeve threaded on said projection and extendinginto the container, a plurality of impellers, diiusers and Ispacers instacked relation in said sleeve, a suction head threaded in the outerend of the sleeve, said diifusers and spacers alternating in stackedaligned relationship Within said sleeve and being clamped thereinbetween said cylindrical projection and said suction head, a pump driveshaft extending through said plurality of impellers, said impellershaving hubs drivingly connected to said pump drive shaft and abuttingone another so that said impellers and pump drive shaft form a solidunit, the side of the housing opposite said projection having a flangeto receive a face mounted motor, said housing having a cavitycommunicating through said projection with the discharge side ofsaidimpellers, a member in said cavity dividing it into a lower andupper cham-l ber, said lower chamber receiving the discharge from saidimpellers, said member having an opening therein, a sleeve bearing fixedin the opening in said member, a drive sleeve supportingly fixed to saidpump drive shaft and rotatably mounted in said sleeve bearing, aconnector supportingly iixed at one end to said drive sleeve and havinga socket formed in the other end thereof, and means for supportinglyfixing the output shaft of said motor of a container comprising; ahousing including flange means for mounting the housing on the wall of acontainer, a cylindrical projection on the container side of saidhousing, a pump sleeve threaded on said projection and extending intothe container, a plurality of impellers,

- ditfusers and spacers in stacked relation in said sleeve, a

suction head threaded in the outer end of the sleeve, said diiusers andspacers alternating in stacked aligned relationship within said sleeveand being clamped therein between said cylindrical projection and saidsuction head,

i '7 a pump drive shaft extending through said plurality of impellers,said impellers having hubs drivingly connected to said pump drive shaftand abutting one another so that said impellers and pump drive shaftform a solid unit, the

r side of the housing opposite said projection having a flange toreceive a face mounted motor, `said housing having a cavitycommunicating through said projection with the discharge side of saidimpellers, a member in said cavity dividing it into a lower and upperchamber, said lower chamber receiving the discharge from said impellers,said member having an opening therein, a sleeve bearing fixed in theopening in said member, a drive sleeve supportingly fixed to said pumpdrive shaft and rotatably mounted in said sleeve bearing, said drivesleeve having a radial ange at its upper end bearing on the upper end ofsaid sleeve bearing, and a connector fixed at one end to said drivesleeve and having a socket formed in the other end thereof for receivingthe output shaft of said pump motor mounted on the said iiange of saidprojection, means for fixing the shaft in the said socket,

said housing having a passage therein connecting said upper chamber withthe interior of said housing adjacent said cylindrical projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A PUMP ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MOUNTING IN A WALL OF A CONTAINERCOMPRISING; A HOUSING INCLUDING FLANGE MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE HOUSING ONTHE WALL OF A CONTAINER, A CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION ON THE CONTAINER SIDEOF SAID HOUSING, A PUMP SLEEVE THREADED ON SAID PROJECTION AND EXTENDINGINTO THE CONTAINER, A PLURALITY OF IMPELLERS, DIFFUSERS AND SPACERS INSTACKED RELATION IN SAID SLEEVE, A SUCTION HEAD THREADED IN THE OUTEREND OF THE SLEEVE, SAID DIFFUSERS AND SPACERS ALTERNATING IN STACKEDALIGNED RELATIONSHIP WITHIN SAID SLEEVE AND BEING CLAMPED THEREINBETWEEN SAID CYLINDRICAL PROJECTION AND SAID SUCTION HEAD, A PUMP DRIVESHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PLURALITY OF IMPELLERS, SAID IMPELLERSHAVING HUBS DRIVINGLY CONNECTED TO SAID PUMP DRIVE SHAFT AND ABUTTINGONE ANOTHER SO THAT SAID IMPELLERS AND PUMP DRIVE SHAFT FORM A SOLIDUNIT, THE SIDE OF THE HOUSING OPPOSITE SAID PROJECTION HAVING A FLANGETO RECEIVE A FACE MOUNTED MOTOR, SAID HOUSING HAVING A CAVITYCOMMUNICATING THROUGH SAID PROJECTION WITH THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF SAIDIMPELLERS, A MEMBER IN SAID CAVITY DIVIDING IT INTO A LOWER AND UPPERCHAMBER, SAID LOWER CHAMBER RECEIVING THE DISCHARGE FROM SAID IMPELLERS,SAID MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, A SLEEVE BEARING FIXED IN THEOPENING IN SAID MEMBER, A DRIVE SLEEVE SUPPORTINGLY FIXED TO SAID PUMPDRIVE SHAFT AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLEEVE BEARING, A CONNECTOR